Life-preserving mattress



(No Model.)

E, WHITPINGH.- LIFE PRESERYING MATTRESS .Patented 0pt NA Penas, Mmmm-1pm wmmglm o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ETHELBERT YVHITFINGH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN SYLVANIA,

'LIFE-PRESERVING MATTRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,078, dated October 11, 1881.

I Application filed August 18, 18231..v (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I ,ETHELEERT WHITFINCH,

a subject of Great Britain, (having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) and residing at Philadelphia, in theV county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,

have invented a new and useful Improvement',Y

' spending parts in the 'several figures.

My invention consists of a sleepin g-mattress adapted to form a life-preserver, with appliances for rowing, Ste., as willV he hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a mattress which is stuffed with cork-cuttin gs or shavings or other buoyant substance, a portion of the mattress at its center being removed to form a space, a, for the reception of the feet of the occupant when the device is employed as a life-preserver, said space being, however, lled by a piece, B, of mattress, when 'a sleeping-mattress is required.

C represents blocks, which are provided with straps D, which are secured to the mattress,v

around the side walls of the space a thereof; and E represents rowloeks or oar-locks, which are iitted to said side blocks, and maybe of usual construction.

Rising from the blocks, at each end thereof, are staples F, and extending from one block to the other are spreadersrGr,` whosel ends are tied tothe staples F and secured by wedges or keys H, or other suitable fastening devices.

To the sides of the mattress are secured two or more loops, J ,in which are locatedv and sustained the oars K, which are ot' any proper form.

The operation is as follows: The mattress is applied to a berth or bedstead, as usual, the lling-piece B being in position in the space a and completing the mattress for sleeping purposes.

In the event of shipwreck or other danger whereby the life-preserver isserviceable, the mattress is withdrawn from the berth and the pieeeB removed. The blocksG are then lashed to the mattress andthe spreaders G connected to said blocks, the oars being properly fitted to the loops J. The party then inserts his head through the space a and passes his arms over the side walls of said space, so th'athe can conveniently carry and control the mattress, after which hejumps into the water and seats himself on the top of the mattress, while his feet rest on straps L stretched across the bottom ot the space a connected to the mattress. The oars are then reached and inserted in the blocks E, means being thus provided for rowing the mat- .tress away from the wreck to places of safety,

Sto.

It will be seen that the device is simple and inexpensive, and the rowing appliances may be quickly located and secured.

The spreaders prevent the bowing and closing in of the mattress, otherwise occasioned by the superimposed Weight of the occupant, and serve as guards to prevent displacement ofthe occupant., as also providefor him holds, which may he grasped to .assist him in keeping his place and prevent him from being washed off the mattress.

Having thus described my invention, whaty I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A buoyant mattress, in combination with removable blocks which are provided with rowlocks, and means for attaching said blocks to the mattress, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A buoyant mattress, in combination with removable blocks which are provided with rowlocks and spreaders attached to said blocks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A buoyant mattress having a space, a, provided with the straps L and filling-piece B, in combination with detachable rowing appliances consisting-,of blocks and rowlocks and spreaders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ETHELBERT W'HITFINCH. 

